Driving mechanism for laundry machines



F. I. COUCH. DRIVING MECHANISM FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES.

13,1?900; APPLICATION FILED IULYII. I919. pawntedi May 239 3 SHEETS-SHEET Wig I2 INVENTOR F. J. COUCH. DRIVING MECHANISM FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES.

APPILICATION mzn JULY :1, m9. v 131 mm, Patented May .23 31922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I sa as! UH! nu M 1/ 4 ATTORNEY F. J. COUCH. DRIVING MECHANISM FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY II I9I9. EAI'LSOOI Patented May 23, 11922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

'Iii 111% NlTED STATES FORREST J. COUCH, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CLARK, CADLE FATEW @H...

HARMON CORPORATION, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters'I-atent. Patgnted Miay 23, 922.,

Application filed July 11, 191.). Serial No. 310,071.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Foimns'r J. CoUoH, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driving Mechanisms for Laundry Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description. of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference numerals marked thereon.

This is an invention in laundry apparatus, and, more particularly, in actuating gearing for washing machines, having as its chief object the provision of a simple, efficient and conveniently controlled mechanism for operating a combined washing machine and wringer.

A further object is to provide an improved mechanism of the above description for rotating the Washing machine elements alternately in opposite directions, with a convenient means for controlling the starting and stopping of the latter, efi'iciently constructed and reducing to a minimum the danger of injury to the operator or breakage or disarrangement of the parts.

Another object is to provide improved mechanism for intermittently and automatically reversing the direction of motion of the driven elements comprising but a few parts, durable in construction and efficient in operation.

Another object is the provision, in conjunction with reversible driving mechanism for. an adjustable Wringer, of improved means for locking the wringer arm in adjusted position on its support, conveniently located adjacent the wringer within reach of the operator, and which effectively prevents connection of the driving mechanism with the wringer while the latter is released for adjustment, thus obviating the danger of injury to the operator.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features be ing pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure -1 is an end elevation of acombined washing machine and wringer having the invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 6 is 'a fragmentary view similar to Figure 3 showing the gearing in reversed position.

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 6 showing the gearing in disengaged relation.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of Figure 4 showing the flexible driving connection for the washing machine.

Figure 10 is a section on the line of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a horizontal section on the line 11 -11 of Figure 6, showing the means fordocking the controller handle in neutral position.

Figure 12 is a vertical section on the line 12'---12 of Figure 11, showing the same parts.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

The invention. in the embodiment which is preferred at the present time as best illustrating the principles involved, is shown in conjunction with a combined washing machine and wringer, 15 indicating the frame of the washing machine which includes the usual rotating element 16, and 17 is the sup-port, or housing, for the driving mechanism. on the upper end of support 17 is pivotally mounted a wringer 18, adapted to be swung horizontally about the support to extend above the washing machine or other receptacles adjacent thereto in the usual manner.

Rotatably supported in. bearings 19 and 19 on the support is the vertical driving shaft 20, which extends downwardly from the support or housing 17 through a tubular guard 21 to suitable gearing connected with the motor 22 supported on the washing machine frame. Within the supporting housing 17, Figure 3, shaft 20 preferably has rotatably mounted thereon a bevel gear against pins, or

23 having a hub 24 rotatable in the bearing 19 and supporting the shaft, the gear be ing held against axial movement between the bearing and a collar 25 fixed on the shaft. Opposed to the gear 23 and spaced therefrom on the shaft is a second bevel gear 26, also rotatable with relation to the shaft and rotatably supported from below by-parts presently to be described against which it is held by a collar 27' fixed on the shaft. Gears 23 and 26 are in mesh with a gear 28 on opposite sides of the latter, which is rotatably carried on a shaft 29. I igure 4. and supported in a bearing 30 on the washing machine frame, a yieldable connection 31 of any suitable character being provided between gear 28 and shaft 29, the latter having fixed thereon, within the washing mas chine receptacle, a gear 32 for driving the washing elements. The yieldable connection in the present instance comprises a spring 31 coiled about shaft 29, having its ends in engagement with abutments on gear 28 and the shaft respectively as shown in Figures 4 and 9.

Gears 23 and 26 are preferably provided with clutch faces 33 and 34 respectively, with which cooperate corresponding clutch faces on the ends of a clutch member 35 splined to the shaft 20 and slidable thereon for alternately clutching the gears to the shaft. The clutch is engaged in the usual manner and shifted by a yoke 36 pivotally supported at 37 on the housing 17. the sides of the yoke preferably having inwardly pro 'jecting lugs 38, Figure 10, extending between and in engagement with a pair of discs 39 slidably carried on a controller spindle 40 which is slidably and rotatably carried at its upper end in a bearing 41 in the housing. The discs are urged toward each other and the lugs 38 by compression springs 42 on the spindle, bearing at their opposite ends rojections, 43 fixed on the spindle. Carrie on the lower end of the spindle is a roller or follower 44, cooperating with a cam 45, Figures 3 and (3, rotatably carried on the hub of gear 26, the cam being so formed, as shown in Figure 6, as to bear during its rotation alternately from above and below on the roller or follower -14, for intermittently and automatically reciproeating spindle 40.

When the spindle is moved by the cam one of the springs 42 is compressed until suf- -ficient tension is obtained to overcome the frictional resistance of the clutch, when the latter is thrown quickly toward the opposite. gear with which it engages, as soon as the clutch parts are in cooperative relation, thus producing a quick shifting movement for the clutch which at the same time is yieldably actuated so that there is no likelihood of breakage of the mechanism during engagement of the clutch faces.

Cam 45 is rotated at reduced speed, preferably. by a differential gearing comprising a plate 46 held against rotation in bearing 19, the plate being formedwith a bearing in which shaft 20 rotates and is supported. Fixed on plate 46 is an internal gear -17, and cam 45 carries a plate 43 concentric with plate 46 and having fixed thereon an internal gear l9. Fixed to the shaft 20 between the plates is an arm 50 having a spindle 51 on which is journalcd a pinion 52 adapted to mesh simultaneously with the gears 47 and 4 9. The latter gears have a different number of teeth, gear 47 in the present instance having 40 teeth, while gear 49 has 39 tccth, so that for cach revolution about the shaft 20 of ,pinion 52, gear 49 will be moved throl'igh the space of one tooth. and the latter gear and the cam 45 complete one revo lution for each thirty-nine revolutions of the driving shaft. The cam thus reciprocates spindle -10 at intervals, thereby shifting the clutch 35 to alternately lock gears 23 and 2t;

with the driving shaft for transmitting alternating rotary movement to gear 23 and the washing machine elements.

A manually operated means is provided for shifting the controller spindle it) to disengage the c'lutch and stop the actuation of the washing machine and for effectively re taining the parts in disengaged relation, comprising preferably a centering guide on the support having spaced arms 53, Figure 3, with curved ends with which the cam follower 44 is adapted to be brought into engagement by rotation of the spindle. The

latter is effected by a handpiece 54, fixed to a head 54 pinned on the upper end of spindle 4.0. The spindle is automatically reciprocatcd by cam 45 without interference by the manual means for moving the control ler until it is desired to stop the washing machine when handpiece 54 is rotated from the position shown in Figure 3 to that in Figure 8 whereby the follower is moved out of engagement with the cam and into engagement with, the centering guide, which moves the spindle longitudinally to a central position, thereby disengaging the clutch.

To assist the movement of the clutch to neutral position, and prevent overtravel of the clutch and to positively lock it in dis engaged position, thereby obviating the danger of injury to the parts or to the operator, there is provided preferably a lever pivotally carried on the support at 56 and having adjacent its center a pin and slot connection 57 with one end of yoke 36. The op posite end of the lever is formed into a cam- 58 of substantially shield-shape, the opposite curved sides of which are adapted to be engaged by one of the projections 43 of spindle 1 when the latter is manually rotated to dis- Figure 8, thereby positively holding yoke 36 in central position and the clutch disengaged, midway of the gears. When the washing maehineis to be started, the controller is moved to the position shown in Figure 3, and cam 45 through the connections described again operates the mechanism for driving the washing elements. A spring pressed plunger 40*, Figures 7 11 and 12, is provided on-the housing, cooperating with a groove 41 and socket 41 Figure 11, for retaining the spindle in operative and inoperative positions, respectively, and when so held in inoperative position, the handle 54 cannot be moved back to operative position until the plunger has been ejected from its socket by manual depression of the pivoted latch piece 41 having the finger 41 for ejecting the plunger 40. This construction prevents inadvertent movement of controller handle 54. unintentionally startingthe machine, and so prevents accidents to operator and apparatus.

Combined with the washin machine is a supporting column 59 extending upwardly from the housing 17, Figure 4, and provided with bearing surfaces '60 with which engage cooperating surfaces of a frame 61, from one side of the lower end of which eittends a horizontal hollow arm 62, supporting wringer 18 at its outer end in convenient position for use with the washing machine or such other receptacles as may be employed adjacent thereto. Rotatably carried in a bearing 63 of the column 59, preferably, is a gear 64 formed centrally with a bearing in which rotates and is supported an upward extension of the driving shaft 20, the gear having at the upper end of its hub a clutch part 65. The upper end of frame61 is provided at 66 with a bearing for the upper end of shaft 20, which has rotatably mounted thereon a second gear 67, spaced from and opposing gear 64 and similarly formed with a clutch part 68. These gears mesh with the gear 69, rotatable in a hearing 70 on the frame and fixed to and supporting the shaft 71 which drives the rolls of the wringer. A bearing 72 in the frame 61 supports, preferably, a rotatable plate or disc 73, adapted to be turned in its bearing by means of a handle 74 and having mounted thereon eccentrically of the bearing a lug 75 engaged between flanges 76 on a clutch part 77 splined to the shaft 20 and formed at its ends with clutch faces for en-. gagement with the clutch parts 65 and 68 of the gears. Rotation of handle 74 by these means shifts clutch 77 longitudinally of the driving shaft and into driving cooperation with one of the gears 64 and 67 for locking it to the shaft and driving the wringer shaft 71 in one direction or the other as may be desired in the operation of the wringer. Handle 74 is conveniently located and readily moved by the operator from his position in front of the wringer.

It is desirable to lock the wringer arm in place while in use, and also to guard against inadvertent connection of the wringer with its driving means while the arm is unlocked for adjustment to a new position, in order to prevent the wringer from being swung about its support by the mechanism and possibl injuring itself or the operator.

To his end plate 73 is provided with a flange 7 9 concentric with the plate bearing, Figure 4, and having formed therein an opening 80 which is at its bottom portion when the clutch is in disengaged position. A bell crank lever 81 is pivoted at 82 on the support, having an arm 83 the end of which is adapted to engage flange 79 from above and also to pass through the opening 80 therein when handle 74 is in disengaged position. The lever has also an arm 84 having a bifurcated lower end 85 which engages a pin 86 fixed in a rod 87 slidable in bearings 88 on and within the wringer arm 62, one end of the rod being adapted for engagement with a plurality of recesses or depressions 89 formed in the column 59. A spring 90 on the rod normally urges the latter into engagement with a recess with which it is brought into register, being com.- pressed between the bearing 88 and a handpiece 91 fixed on the rod and projecting upwardly through a slot' 92 in the top of the arm, adjacent the wringer. As the construction indicates, when it is desired to swing the wringer to a new position, handle 91 is operated to unlock the wringer arm and lock it in its new position, but the handle is held against operation by flange 79 and lever 81 until handle 74 is in the position in which the clutch is disengaged. Also, whenever the clutch is in disengaged position, it is impossible to engage it until rod 87 has been engaged with one of the recesses 89 for locking the wringer in position, by reason of the interference of the arm with the sides of slot 80 of the clutch shifting plate.

In the operation of the device, the clothes having been placed in the washing machine and the latter filled with the washing fluid,

latch 41 is depressed handle 54 is moved to engage follower 44 with cam 45, after which the washing elements are alternately rotated by the motor until the washing operation is complete, when handle 54 is again moved to disconnect the driving mechanism and. lock the latter in inoperative position by the means described. The wringer is then swung to the desired position and locked to its support by handle 91, after which handle 74 may be operated to drive the wringer in either direction as required by the work, and when it is desired to shift the position of the wringer, the gearing is disengaged by operation of handle 74, arm 62 is unlocked and swung to its new position and again locked by handle 91, after which the gearing may be again connected for driving the wringer, the lever 81 forming an interlocking means between the gearing control and arm locking device to prevent an operation of either which would drive the wringer while its arm is released.

Various modifications in details of structure and operation are possible within the scope of the invent-ion, the present construction being only one of the possible embodiments, preferred because of its simplicity, convenience of control, and efiiciency of operation as well as the substantial and durable character of its parts.

I claim as my invention:

1. A support, driving and driven elements thereon, gearing connecting said elements including a clutch for disengaging the driving and driven elements and reversing the motion of the driven element, means for intermittently and automatically operating said clutch to reverse said driven element, and manually operable means for disabling said automatic means and disengaging the clutch including automatic mechanism for preventing overtravel of the clutch in such disengaging movement and for positively locking it in disengaged position.

2. A support, driving and driven elements thereon, gearing connecting said elements including a clutch for disengaging the driving and driven elements and reversing the motion of the driven element, automatic means comprising differential gearing, a cam and a part connected with the clutch and operated by the cam for intermittently and automatically operating the clutch to reverse said driven element, and manually operable means for disabling said automatic means and disengaging the clutch including a mechanism for preventing overtravel of the clutch and positively looking it in disengaged position.

3. A support, driving and driven elements thereon, gearing connecting said elements including a clutch for disengaging the driving and driven elements and reversing the motion of the driven element, a reversing cam rotated at a reduced speed by said driving element, a controller connected with the clutch and having a follower cooperating with said cam for intermittently and automatically operating the clutch to reverse said driven element, a centering guide, projections on said controller and a centering cam connected with said cl utch, said controller being movable to carry the follower from said reversing cam to the centering guide and bring said projections and centering cam into engagement to lock the clutch in disengaged position.

4. A support, driving and driven elements thereon, gearing connecting said elements including a clutch for disconnecting and reating saidclutch in either direction, means for intermittently and automatically operating the controller and clutch to reverse said gearing, a centering guide for the controller, said controller being manually movable into cooperation with said centering guide to disengage the clutch, and cooperating parts connected with said controller and clutch to positively prevent overthrow of the latter and lock 'it in disengaged position.

6. A support, driving and driven elements thereon, gearing connecting said driving and driven elements including a clutch for disconnecting and reversing said gearing, mechanism for shifting said clutch to reverse said gearing, and manually operable means for actuating said clutch to disconnect said gearing comprising cooperating parts connected with said means and clutch to assist in actuating the latter and prevent its overthrow, and to lock it in disengaged position.

7. A support, driving and driven elements thereon, gearing connecting said driving and driven elements including a clutch for disconnecting and reversing said gearing, mechanism for shifting said clutch to reverse said gearing, manually operable means for actuating said clutch to disconnect said gearing comprising cooperating. parts connected with said means and clutch to assist in actuating the latter and prevent its overthrow and lock it in disengaged position, and a device for locking said manually operable means in such disengaging position.

8. The combination of a support, driving and driven elements thereon, reversible gearing connecting said elements having a neu-- tral posltion, automatic means actuated by said driving element for intermittently reversing said gearing, and manually operable means adapted in one position to connect said automatic means and gearing for reversing the latter and in another position to disconnect said parts and adjust said gearing to neutral position.

9. The combination of a support, driving and driven elements thereon, reversible gearing connecting said elements having a neutral position, automatic means for intermittently reversing said gearing, manually operable means connected with said gearing having a movement in one direction into the path of movement of said automatic means for reversing said gearing and also a movement to an inactive position out of the path of movement of said automatic means for adjusting said gearing to neutral position, and guide means for centering said manual means in inactive position and stopping overtravel of the gearing during adjustment. I

10. The combination of a support driving and driven elements thereon, reversible gearing connecting said elements having a neutral position, automatic means for intermittently reversing said gearing, manually operable means connected with said gearing having a movement to one position for actuation by said automatic means to reverse said gearing and also to a neutral position disconnected from said automatic means, and cooperating parts on said manual means and gearing for automatically centering both said manual means and gearing in neutral position and stopping overtravel of the same.

11. The combination of a support, driving and driven elements thereon, reversible gearing connecting said elements having a neutral position, automatic means actuated by said driving element for intermittently reversing said gearing, manually operable means having a resilient connection with said gearing, said manual means having a movement to one position for connecting said automatic means and gearing and also a movement to a neutral position for disc0n-- necting the same and adjusting said gearing to neutral, and stop means connected with said gearing and actuated automatically upon movement of said manual means to neutral position for stopping overtravel of the gearing.

FORREST J. COUCH. 

